World’s Oldest Person, Besse Cooper, Turns 115

For a brief millisecond exactly 115 years ago, Besse Cooper was the youngest person in the world. Over a century later, she’s the oldest.

Born in Tennessee on August 26, 1896, she moved to Georgia during World War I to find a job as a teacher and still lives in the Peach State. Guinness bestowed the title of world’s oldest on Ms. Cooper when Maria Gomes Valentin of Brazil passed away on June 21st. Ms. Valentin was 41 days her senior.

A birthday party is planned for Ms. Cooper at Park Place Nursing Facility where she currently resides. Surely some of her dozens of grand, great-grand and great-great grandchildren will be there to help her celebrate the big 115.